"He'll bring his experience, his enthusiasm as a footballer, leadership that can help in the dressing room and obviously he can score goals. His movement is great and he can hurt defenders with it.

"He has been training with Spurs so I asked Harry [Redknapp] about him and he said Robbie looks in much better condition than he did this time last year, when he went on loan to West Ham. We're hearing that he's in tip-top shape. I think the Republic getting through to the European Championship in the summer helps there. The Irish boys have the tournament to look forward to and Robbie wants to be at his very best. That sort of motivation can only be good for us.

"We are talking about a guy who is at his peak. At 19 there is a lot you don't know, but at 31 you certainly know a lot more. If he's not as quick as he once was, he can make up for that with quickness in his head.

"Having a new face will give everybody a lift – the team, the staff and more importantly the fans. Any fan identifies with players who give absolutely everything for their team, they are turned on by people running through brick walls for the club, and Robbie is that type of player."

Alex McLeish.


"It's been very easy to be honest, I'm lucky to know a lot of players here, I knew Alex McLeish [the manager] and Kevin McDonald [coach]. It's been very easy to settle in. The manager is great and the staff as well. If I can help the team, great – it's a team that the manager is trying to build. In the next two years you'll see a strong Villa side.

"I'm not one of those players who looks 12 months ahead. I'm here for seven weeks and it will be a good challenge for me.

"LA Galaxy are not playing until the 22nd [of February] and their pre-season is a lot longer and there is a lot more travelling to do. It just worked out perfectly for myself and hopefully for Villa."

Robbie Keane.


"It's great for Villa to secure a player of Robbie's calibre, even in the short-term.

"I didn't know how fit he was before the last couple of days in training but he looks really sharp, to be honest. We're all delighted that he's here and I think he's just given the whole dressing room a lift. He's a big personality and he's a big-game player. I think even in training the lads have been very impressed with what they've seen. I think it's a great boost to have him on board.

"Some of the young lads here can learn from a guy like Robbie Keane, it's fantastic for them. I think the younger players will look up to him and learn from him. Not only that, he's only 31, so he's quite young really. I think he will cause Premier League defences plenty of problems when's given a chance to play. If you give him a chance [in front of goal], then nine times out of 10 he'll take it."

Shay Given.


“I don't know what the manager's thoughts are, whether I will be in the squad to face Everton or not, but I want to try and get back in as soon as I can and hopefully it will happen on Saturday.

”Every player has to fight for his place, however, and Brad has done a great job in my absence.

"This is the longest period of games that Brad [Guzan] has had since he's been here and he's done very well. I don't think he's put a foot wrong. It's difficult to be a No2 and to step up to the plate but he's done that. He hasn't looked at all out of place in the Premier League or in the FA Cup. For me, it's been a frustrating time not to have been playing over the past couple of weeks. But I'm glad to be back out on the training pitch and I'm glad to be working to be match fit again."

Shay Given.



“I’m disappointed we didn’t hold on. I had a good feeling we would. It’s such a shame that Albrighton tracked Anichebe back but just didn’t do the final thing to stop him.

“We are gutted by that. It’s a good learning experience for him. It hurt us a wee bit by not getting three points.

“It was great to see Darren [Bent] back in the goals. He’s been struggling a bit with injuries but he finished the game well.”

Alex McLeish.